In past seasons, D-backs hitters would gather in a group with the team’s hitting coaches to go over the scouting report on the opposing pitcher.

Sometimes those meetings would happen in a corner of the clubhouse, or food area, or in the batting cages.

This year, though, those kinds of gatherings simply can’t happen due to the COVID-19 safety protocols, so adjustments have had to be made.

Before their series with the Padres, the D-backs had their standard team meeting to go over things, but instead of using the cramped quarters of the ballpark, they met in a large ballroom at the team hotel.

And now, the daily meetings are broken up into groups of three or four players meeting with hitting coach Darnell Coles to discuss that day’s opposing starter.

“We’re just trying to feel this out,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “These are those things that change day by day. You just don’t know what works for the guys, but we’ll continue to get their input and find out exactly what works for the players.”

Replay
Outfielder Starling Marte was thrown out trying to steal third base to end the sixth inning on Saturday night, and TV replays showed that he might have been safe.

When asked about Marte stealing third in that situation, Lovullo said a runner has to be sure he can make it, but he also mentioned that he probably should have challenged the call.

“We have a process that we follow, and the information wasn’t relayed to me,” Lovullo said. “Didn’t come in in that [allowed] amount of time. Obviously, I’m going to take the blame for it. I think it’s my responsibility to do so.”

Congrats
Reliever Taylor Widener made his big league debut on Saturday night, working 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Widener’s parents didn’t get to attend the game because no fans are allowed into ballparks right now, but they were watching on television back in South Carolina.

“I wish they would have been able to have been here for real,” Widener said. “They stayed up late and they got to watch and I called them right after the game and they were just as excited as I was. I know it’s absolutely killing them [not being here]. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. They’ve devoted their life just as much as I have to the game.”